The Secret Policeman's Ball: USA (Blu-ray)

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All Rise...

Judge Clark Douglas is a secret dogcatcher.

The Charge

"I would have loved to attend, but, you see, my legs have gone
missing."

The Case

Since the mid-1970s, a host of talented British comedians and musicians have
joined forces to participate in The Secret Policeman's Ball, a benefit event
designed to raise money for Amnesty International. While the event hasn't
exactly been an annual affair (it tends to run for a few consecutive years,
disappear for a while and then make a surprise return), it's been going long
enough to become something of a grand tradition in Great Britain. In 2012, the
show moved to the United States for the first time, mixing the usual assortment
of British comics with a host of their American counterparts. If you weren't
lucky enough to attend that event, this new Blu-ray release of The Secret
Policeman's Ball: USA at Radio City Music Hall gives you a chance to enjoy
the festivities.

While the event was certainly a success on the most important front (raising
money for charity), how well does it hold up as a two-hour extravaganza of
comedy and music? The results are decidedly mixed, which is often the case
whenever an event is largely comprised of hastily-assembled comic bits (see:
every awards show ever). It's a very hit-and-miss affair, but there are enough
chuckles and celebrity appearances to make the viewing experience a generally
pleasant one.

Most of the best acts are the stand-up comics who actually get to perform 5
or 10 minutes of their material. Eddie Izzard's opening set is on the clunky
side (particularly an extended bit in which he offers evidence that God isn't
real—true or not, the material just isn't funny), but Russell Brand's
closing segment is terrific. In-between, the likes of Jack Whitehall, Sarah
Silverman and Hannibal Burress impress with short, distinctive routines. The
sketches, on the other hand, tend to be pretty shaky. An early piece featuring
Jon Stewart and "Kim Jong Un" (played by Mad TV veteran Bobby
Lee) is simply awful, as is a pre-filmed sketch in which Robert De Niro attempts
to sell the severed legs of assorted Monty Python members (the script is solid,
but De Niro crushes the laughs with his flat delivery). On the other hand, I
enjoyed the miniature Mr. Show reunion with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross,
and a playful SNL-style sketch involving Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen and
Jason Sudeikis. I also quite enjoyed the pre-recorded appearances from Python
members Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, all of whom demonstrate that
they haven't lost their deft comic touch.

The music definitely plays a smaller role than the comedy, but what's here
is nonetheless fairly enjoyable. You get a couple of folksy tunes from Mumford
and Sons, then a lengthier closing set from Coldplay. Amusingly, Chris Martin
seems irritated that he's not getting quite the crowd response he expected,
though I suppose that's only natural when a stand-up comedy crowd suddenly turns
into a rock concert crowd.

The Secret Policeman's Ball: USA at Radio City Music Hall (Blu-ray)
has received a stellar 1080i/1.78:1 transfer. This isn't a visually remarkable
show—even the sketches sport slim sets and minimal props—but the
level of detail is strong throughout. The DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio track only
gets a chance to impress during the musical sequences, but it does the job quite
nicely, too. Supplements are limited to a behind-the-scenes featurette that
offers comments from a handful of the special's celebrity participants.

The first American incarnation of The Secret Policeman's Ball isn't exactly
a staggering comic achievement, but it's a pleasant (if inconsistent) way to
spend a couple of hours.

The Verdict

Not guilty.

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